Probable cause hearings tied to New Bedford murder case continued

Friday

Feb 28, 2014 at 12:01 AM

NEW BEDFORD — Probable cause hearings for the two suspects charged in connection with the Jan. 16 slaying of 23-year-old Patrick Alves have been continued until next month in New Bedford District Court.

CURT BROWN

NEW BEDFORD — Probable cause hearings for the two suspects charged in connection with the Jan. 16 slaying of 23-year-old Patrick Alves have been continued until next month in New Bedford District Court.

Nicholas R. Gonzales, 27, of Fairhaven, and Gerron A. Harper, 19, of Brockton, are both charged with being an accessory after the fact in the shooting death of Alves.

Gonzales is also charged with two counts of intimidation of a witness.

A probable cause hearing for Gonzales was continued until March 20 and Harper's probable cause hearing was continued until March 21, both in New Bedford District Court. Harper is being held on $25,000 cash bail, while Gonzales is being held on $50,000 cash bail.

Gonzales is charged with stealing Alves' cellphone and lying about it and attempting to destroy it by throwing it down the toilet at his home, according to court records.

Harper is accused of getting rid of the cellphone that was used "to set-up" Alves and possessing parts of the victim's phone, according to prosecutor Dennis Collins.

No one has been charged with murder in Alves' death, according to Gregg Miliote, a spokesman for Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter.

Alves was shot multiple times and his body was found about 1:14 a.m. Jan. 16 on Myrtle Street near Cedar Grove Street, according to documents in New Bedford District Court.